Private Clinton A. Shaw

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Company G

12th
New Hampshire Volunteer Infantry Regiment

Clinton Shaw
answered President’s Abraham Lincoln’s call for troops of April 15,
1861, by joining the Laconia Volunteers State Militia on April 22, 1861.
He was age 30 at the time, but told the Army he was 25 years old.
Clinton re-enlisted on May 22, 1861 for 8 years State Service.

A Belknap County,
and surrounding towns, began forming an Infantry regiment in August
1862, and like many of the Laconia Volunteers, Clinton signed up for the
regiment. This time he told the Army his age was 27, when he was
actually 31 years old.

Shaw served in the 12th
New Hampshire Volunteer Infantry Regiment for its entire existence, from
Muster In, at Concord, September 1862, till the Regiment was Mustered
Out, in Richmond, VA, June 21, 1865. This regiment fought in some of the
biggest battles of the war: Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville,
Gettysburg, Cold Harbor, Petersburg, Mine Explosion, Bermuda Hundred,
and marched into Richmond the day it fell, April 3, 1865. The regiment
was overrun at Chancellorsville and almost at Gettysburg. In all this,
the records indicate that Shaw was never wounded. He also was not
promoted above Private.

Clinton
A. Shaw’s Civil War rifle

At the Battle of
Chancellorsville, the 12th New Hampshire was in the
unfortunate spot on the battlefield where Confederate General “Stone
Wall” Jackson made his famous surprise flank attack, on May 2nd,
1863. The 12th New Hampshire was credited with being one of
the very few regiments that stood it’s ground, rather than run from the
surprised attack, and withdrew to the superior force in “proper order”.
Their gallantry cost them to incur the highest casualties of any Union
Regiment in the entire battle. They had a confirmed 41 Killed, 213
Wounded, and 63 Missing (most of these were killed and not identified in
the enemy occupied territory).

During this battle,
Clinton A. Shaw’s rifle was hit by a bullet in the riffle butt,
shattering the rifle, but saving his life. Shaw dropped what was left of
his rifle, and picked up one of the many rifles scattered on the
battlefield, and used it for the remainder of the war. This is the rifle
he picked up on that battlefield.

Click on the picture to enlarge.

Clinton A. Shaw - Rifle

Bayonet and Sheath (1863-1865) Donated by Howard Shaw

Powder Canister and shot pouch.

Private Clinton Shaw on right (Photo from David Oliver)

Private Clinton Shaw's Discharge paper from June 21st, 1865

Clink on the picture to see a larger copy

After
the War

Clinton A.
Shaw returned to Moultonborough after the war, and lived in the house on
Old Route 109, across from the Lee Road entrance. He had two wives,
Sarah J. (1850 – 1882) and Alminer (1852 – 1933). Clinton died October
23, 1902, at the age of 71. He and his two wives are buried in town, at
the Lee Cemetery, located next to the Woodshed Restaurant parking lot,
on Lees Mills Road, less than a mile from his house.

Drop by the Moultonborough Historical
Society Museum and check out the
Clinton A. Shaw display.
Pictured here with the display is Clinton Shaw's Great Great
Grand Daughter - Meca Atkinson.